The car slowed to a stop in front of a modest two-story cottage nestled between dense trees and old garden hedges. The Jensen home was unassuming, faded yellow paint, wooden fence, a wind chime gently clinking in the breeze, but it gave off a quiet warmth that made it feel safe. Like a sanctuary.Mrs. Jensen stepped out first, waving for them to follow as she opened the creaky gate. “Come in, come in! My husband’s not home right now, he’s working at this hour, but I’ll show you where we hid the madam’s things.”Cecil’s heart pounded with a mix of anticipation and dread. Mason and Julian exchanged a glance, wordless but alert. They didn’t trust easily, but today, they were running on hope.Mrs. Jensen led them through a narrow hallway and down a set of stairs hidden behind an old pantry door.She flipped on the light and descended carefully, gesturing for them to follow. “We didn’t want to anger the Alpha,” she said in a hushed voice. “So we put them down here where no one would think
The moment Julian's call went through, it was instantly terminated.“What the hell—” he muttered and was about to redial when Mason leaned forward, eyes locked on the road ahead.“No need. She’s right there,” Mason said, nodding toward a narrow street intersection just coming into view.Julian made a sharp right turn and pulled over to the curb without a word.Seconds later, Cecil emerged from behind a fence, sprinting toward the car with a flushed face and tousled hair. She flung open the rear door and climbed in, panting slightly but grinning.“Sorry, sorry,” she said breathlessly, “I dropped my phone while jumping off the roof. Had to do a quick dive to avoid the maid who walked out just as I was scaling down. Landed like a damn cat, though. No witnesses.”Julian turned toward her with a mixture of relief and frustration. “We were this close to sending a search party. What were you even doing on the roof?”Cecil rolled her eyes and shot him a playful glare. “Gee, I don’t know, mayb
While seated at the long dining table, Julian and Mason appeared perfectly at ease—at least, outwardly, were communicating in the privacy of their mindlink.‘Did you find anything?’ Mason asked, voice hard and clipped in Julian’s mind.‘Nothing yet. Not a single clue. Either they removed everything… or burned it all,’ Julian replied, keeping his face placid while mechanically cutting into his steak.‘What about Cecil?’ Mason’s tone sharpened.‘No word. She’s gone dark after checking Aria's old room. I just hope her silence means she’s found something… or that she’s still safe,’ Julian replied, subtly shifting his body to keep the maids and Stella’s nosy sisters from peering at his screen. Every time he pulled out his phone, curious eyes flitted toward it like hawks circling prey.Just then, Elliot’s mother, draped in pearls and false airs of grace, leaned slightly toward Mason. Her voice was syrupy but poisoned.“Chairman,” she began sweetly, “there’s a rumor that you’ve been seen… s
Julian pressed the phone against his ear, his brows furrowed as he glanced around the buzzing room, and even the foyer, and the hallway, pretending to strain against the noise of idle chatter and polite conversation. The perfect image of a diligent subordinate, he gave an exaggerated sigh of frustration, shaking his head as though he couldn't understand the person on the other line due to the noise.From the corner of his eye, he spotted Stella approaching with a tray of cookies, smiling like the perfect hostess. 'Showtime...' he thought.He moved swiftly, weaving through the gathering with purpose, then met her with a charming smile that could disarm a blade. “Luna Stella,” he said, polite and urgent, “I hate to trouble you, but I need somewhere quiet.”He lifted his phone and lowered his voice conspiratorially. “The Federation headquarters just contacted me. They need a report—on behalf of the Chairman. I didn’t want to disturb him while he’s enjoying your family’s hospitality, bu
Julian laid out the special clothing on the bed, a sleek, jet-black tactical suit, fitted to Cecil’s form. It was flexible enough for stealth movement, but lined with hidden compartments and reinforced seams. Lightweight, breathable, and deadly quiet. Perfect for slipping undetected into enemy territory.“Where did you even get this?” Cecil asked as she slipped the suit on, running her fingers over the reinforced stitching and small side pockets.Julian didn’t look up. He was inspecting a vial filled with translucent liquid. “Let’s just say... It’s a prototype we keep in storage at the Federation HQ—for situations that require more... discretion.”Cecil raised a brow. “So basically, spy gear?”Julian only gave her a tight-lipped smile. “Something like that.”He stepped closer and lifted a small spray bottle. Without warning, he misted the formula over her shoulders, chest, down her arms, and legs.She coughed lightly. “What the hell is that?”“The scent cloak that was created last nig
“That’s a damn dangerous plan, Cecil,” Julian said, finally breaking the heavy silence inside the car.Cecil let out a deep breath, leaning back against the leather seat with her arms crossed. “I know. But unless either of you has a better idea, this is all we’ve got. That house holds the last pieces of the puzzle—we just have to find them.”A tense quiet stretched out between them until Mason, voice calm but razor-sharp, shattered it.“Then I'll personally distract them, while she sneaks in.”Cecil and Julian turned to him in unison, surprised.“But we’ll do it tomorrow. We only get one shot. We mess this up, and not only do we lose the pills—we alert them that we’re on to something,” Mason added, his voice full of cold calculation. “And don’t underestimate Elliot. He may have been born from a lower-ranking pack, but he’s ruthless and sharp. He’ll sniff out Cecil the moment she crosses the threshold unless we remove her scent entirely.”Cecil raised a brow. “And how exactly do we do